Comments on: Skins draft a numbers gamehttp://realredskins.com/2008/04/27/skins-draft-a-numbers-game/
Real Redskins is the longest-running Redskins blog on the internet. Get the latest news and analysis from team insider Rich Tandler.Tue, 03 Mar 2015 22:04:06 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: Sports Scatterhttp://realredskins.com/2008/04/27/skins-draft-a-numbers-game/#comment-1342
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:55:00 +0000http://realredskins.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/skins-draft-a-numbers-game/#comment-1342I agree on Rinehart being a solid move, but mostly because I think the Redskins finally have a backup lineman who can pull and lead the running game. It should be interesting to see what the Redskins can make of him. He’s coming into the perfect situation for a guy with his skills, as Bugel has done some things with guys like him in the past. He is not really a project player the way recent picks like Molinaro, Dockery, and Wilson were, other than he will probably have to learn to play a new position on the line. He isn’t probably as physically gifted as Dockery, but he is more mobile and far more aggressive.

I don’t think receiver was such a great need for the Redskins, but it doesn’t hurt at all. It was brilliant getting out of the inflated salaries of the first round. The Redskins drafted good athletes to take a chance on without the need to foolishly guarantee a bunch of money. They can lock up their entire draft for less guaranteed money than several teams will no doubt give to #1 picks this year, only to see many these #1 picks released in 2 to 3 years. In my mind, 2nd round draft picks and 3rd round draft picks are typically about as likely to be good NFL players as first round picks, though perhaps not as many turn into greats of the game.

I don’t believe the Redskins really had any ‘holes’ so to speak going into the draft, merely some areas that could be upgraded, a few open backup positions, and some areas that are a bit aged. It is curious to me how many ‘draft experts’ on those big media sites are talking about how the Redskins failed to get a LB. Once again, as with the Briggs conversation, I don’t really see why the Redskins would need a new starting LB in 2008. I’m glad to see you’re one of the few people out there not talking about what so-called ‘needs’ didn’t get filled.

Anyways taking 10 cheap picks and then adding some rookie free agents into the mix should give the Redskins a lot of options to fill their open slots. If the players don’t work out they go into 2008 no worse off in talent, a bit more experienced, and perhaps healthier than 2007 (we can hope). They don’t need many of their picks to be good, only a few to be good enough to fill roles.

Of course we all hope that a few of the picks will be great. You never know with receivers, they’re always risky picks. But they got the guys they wanted.

I’ll enjoy seeing whether opponents choose to put extra safeties, cornerbacks, or linebackers in when the Redskins go into two tight end sets. I haven’t seen a team with two tight ends with such receiving skills before, closest being Pollard and Dilger and Clark combinations in Indianapolis I suppose (which doesn’t really come close at all if Davis turns out half as good as Cooley). If teams go DBs Portis and Betts should have field days. If they go LBs, the West Coast system should be at its best.

An intriguing thing to me is the overload at WR and KR/PR. If the rookies are good at their main positions some popular veteran special team players are going to get cut.

I like the QB pick. He reminds me of Andre Ware, except that the Redskins have no intention of putting the guy on the field in the next two years to get brutalized, and the Redskins have a good offensive line. Colt should have plenty of time to show if he is a system QB or a good QB who was stuck in a bad college situation. He represents a change in approach from drafting project guys like Hamdan and Rosenfels in late rounds, or mediocre college players without any particular skills, such as Husak.

This isn’t the first time they’ve brought in a punter who could kick the ball a long way in recent years, but he’s the first one who has a history of doing it consistently. I suspect Frost will be asking for his release so he can hook up with another team.

The other late picks are really basically going to be competing on an even field with the rookie free agents, so I completely agree that they’ll have to be good on special teams. I also think they will have to show themselves ready to start if needed and not embarrass themselves at NFL level because the depth chart is over-booked. I predict there won’t be any late-round players making the roster this year that are ‘potential’ guys. For the first time since Snyder’s first season there is too much depth on the roster for carrying project players (except maybe the emergency QB slot).

]]>By: Sports Scatterhttp://realredskins.com/2008/04/27/skins-draft-a-numbers-game/#comment-2226
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:55:00 +0000http://realredskins.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/skins-draft-a-numbers-game/#comment-2226I agree on Rinehart being a solid move, but mostly because I think the Redskins finally have a backup lineman who can pull and lead the running game. It should be interesting to see what the Redskins can make of him. He’s coming into the perfect situation for a guy with his skills, as Bugel has done some things with guys like him in the past. He is not really a project player the way recent picks like Molinaro, Dockery, and Wilson were, other than he will probably have to learn to play a new position on the line. He isn’t probably as physically gifted as Dockery, but he is more mobile and far more aggressive.

I don’t think receiver was such a great need for the Redskins, but it doesn’t hurt at all. It was brilliant getting out of the inflated salaries of the first round. The Redskins drafted good athletes to take a chance on without the need to foolishly guarantee a bunch of money. They can lock up their entire draft for less guaranteed money than several teams will no doubt give to #1 picks this year, only to see many these #1 picks released in 2 to 3 years. In my mind, 2nd round draft picks and 3rd round draft picks are typically about as likely to be good NFL players as first round picks, though perhaps not as many turn into greats of the game.

I don’t believe the Redskins really had any ‘holes’ so to speak going into the draft, merely some areas that could be upgraded, a few open backup positions, and some areas that are a bit aged. It is curious to me how many ‘draft experts’ on those big media sites are talking about how the Redskins failed to get a LB. Once again, as with the Briggs conversation, I don’t really see why the Redskins would need a new starting LB in 2008. I’m glad to see you’re one of the few people out there not talking about what so-called ‘needs’ didn’t get filled.

Anyways taking 10 cheap picks and then adding some rookie free agents into the mix should give the Redskins a lot of options to fill their open slots. If the players don’t work out they go into 2008 no worse off in talent, a bit more experienced, and perhaps healthier than 2007 (we can hope). They don’t need many of their picks to be good, only a few to be good enough to fill roles.

Of course we all hope that a few of the picks will be great. You never know with receivers, they’re always risky picks. But they got the guys they wanted.

I’ll enjoy seeing whether opponents choose to put extra safeties, cornerbacks, or linebackers in when the Redskins go into two tight end sets. I haven’t seen a team with two tight ends with such receiving skills before, closest being Pollard and Dilger and Clark combinations in Indianapolis I suppose (which doesn’t really come close at all if Davis turns out half as good as Cooley). If teams go DBs Portis and Betts should have field days. If they go LBs, the West Coast system should be at its best.

An intriguing thing to me is the overload at WR and KR/PR. If the rookies are good at their main positions some popular veteran special team players are going to get cut.

I like the QB pick. He reminds me of Andre Ware, except that the Redskins have no intention of putting the guy on the field in the next two years to get brutalized, and the Redskins have a good offensive line. Colt should have plenty of time to show if he is a system QB or a good QB who was stuck in a bad college situation. He represents a change in approach from drafting project guys like Hamdan and Rosenfels in late rounds, or mediocre college players without any particular skills, such as Husak.

This isn’t the first time they’ve brought in a punter who could kick the ball a long way in recent years, but he’s the first one who has a history of doing it consistently. I suspect Frost will be asking for his release so he can hook up with another team.

The other late picks are really basically going to be competing on an even field with the rookie free agents, so I completely agree that they’ll have to be good on special teams. I also think they will have to show themselves ready to start if needed and not embarrass themselves at NFL level because the depth chart is over-booked. I predict there won’t be any late-round players making the roster this year that are ‘potential’ guys. For the first time since Snyder’s first season there is too much depth on the roster for carrying project players (except maybe the emergency QB slot).